Clash of the Titans

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Perfect Dark Zero is one of the many games
backing Microsoft's new console, the Xbox 360.

E3 is the game industry's Mecca, where thousands of joypad
junkies last week worshipped in front of countless giant screens at
the annual industry get-together in Los Angeles.

But this gamer's paradise is anything but peaceful. The
deafening wall of noise, blinding lights and oppressive heat
assaulting attendees in the huge halls is extraordinary.

The atmosphere at E3 was even more heated than usual, with
gaming giants Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo firing opening salvos in
a billion-dollar battle. All three last week unveiled new consoles,
which will be on the shelves within 18 months.

Gamers are the guaranteed victors, treated to powerful, sleek
and innovative new consoles offering spectacular games plus
flexible multimedia and online capabilities.

Sony, Nintendo and Microsoft are committed to widening the
audience for video games, targeting players who have never touched
a controller before. Simple and inclusive games, innovative
controls, video chat, digital music and photo capabilities will be
used to woo newcomers.

Microsoft launched a pre-emptive strike by unveiling its new
console, Xbox 360, on television before E3, but market leader Sony
was the first to unveil its latest console in the flesh. Sony's
PlayStation 3 impressed the audience with its "super computer"
power, astonishing graphics and futuristic design.

PlayStation 3 features two teraflops of processing power and
uses new Blu-ray discs storing 54GB - six times dual-layer DVD. It
can accommodate seven wireless controllers, a detachable hard drive
and two widescreen high-definition displays. A redesigned
controller has a streamlined boomerang shape but similar button
layout to its predecessor.

Phil Harrison, executive vice-president of Sony Computer
Entertainment Europe, says PlayStation 3 is 35 times more powerful
than its predecessor and has twice Xbox 360's computing muscle.
"We're putting a super-computer under every television," he
says.

PlayStation 3 users can transfer game data, music and video
wirelessly to PlayStation Portable, surf the internet and even
broadcast video.

At a press conference scheduled just hours after Sony's,
Microsoft remained bullish about its determination to become number
one in the game industry and revealed widespread support for its
new console.

Sony has dominated the game industry for a decade but Microsoft
has spent more than $A2 billion to get a foothold in the lucrative
gaming market, worth more than $US10 billion. But so far Microsoft
has sold just 20 million consoles compared to Sony's 85 million
Playstation 2 consoles.

But Xbox chief Robbie Bach believes its new console is as
powerful as PlayStation 3 and aims to sell 10 million before Sony's
new console hits the shelves.

Microsoft will be first to launch its new console on the market
in November, attempting to replicate Sony's success with
PlayStation 2, which was firmly entrenched when Microsoft released
its debut console. But the window of opportunity is narrow -
PlayStation 3 is due for release in the US mid next year.

Famous for forging its own path, Nintendo also used E3 to unveil
its latest creation, but kept most of the details secret. Still
known by its codename, Revolution, the device is housed in a tiny
case the size of three DVD covers. It will be released next
year.

Revolution uses proprietary 12 centimetre optical discs and will
play DVD movies with an optional attachment. The system has 512MB
of internal flash memory and uses a "unique" controller, which has
not yet been revealed.

Revolution will offer a wide variety of games - it is backwards
compatible with GameCube titles and all Nintendo game developed in
the past 20 years. Users can download classics from Nintendo 64,
SNES and NES systems.

Rather than out-muscling the Sony and Microsoft behemoths,
Nintendo is banking on its culture of innovation to widen its
audience. Nintendo believes Revolution can be home to both
big-budget games and smaller, original games from independent
studios. New versions of Mario, Metroid, Zelda, Smash Brothers and
Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles are in development.

Despite the focus on new consoles at E3, PlayStation 2's
dominance of the console market shows no signs of abating.

Sony also revealed a four-player PlayStation 2 virtual game
show, complete with buzzer controllers. Due in October, Buzz: The
Music Quiz features 5000 questions and 1000 music clips from the
past 50 years of popular music.

Many publishers hedged their bets by releasing games across
multiple consoles.

The best console game at E3 was GameCube's Legend of Zelda:
Twilight Princess, starring a grown Link exploring vast, realistic
environments either on foot, horseback or by turning into a wolf.
The game was shown in a closed area resembling a theme park ride,
complete with animatronic wolves and two-hour queues.

Australia dispatched its biggest contingent yet to E3 with 38
companies exhibiting at the Games Australia stand.

Home-grown games included Ty the Tasmanian Tiger: Night of the
Quinkan, Trainz Railroad Simulator 2006, Payload, Heroes of the
Pacific and Destroy All Humans.

Competition in the hand-held console market at E3 was fierce.
Nintendo announced it had sold more than 5 million DS consoles,
while Sony has sold 3 million PlayStation Portables, which was
launched in Japan late last year and will be available here in
September.

Nintendo unveiled the Game Boy Micro, which plays GBA titles on
a device small enough to fit into the tightest jeans. The machine
weighs less than an iPod Mini.

Micro's two-inch screen is the brightest yet seen on a Nintendo
hand-held and may provide an alluring low-cost option for
image-conscious consumers dazzled by the PlayStation Portables'
stunning display.

Nintendo confirmed that it would explore the potential of online
gaming with forthcoming DS titles such as Mario Kart, Animal
Crossing and a new Tony Hawk. Nintendo will not charge for online
play regardless of whether users connect through a wi-fi hub or a
home wireless network.

Small players are also attempting to crack the hand-held
market.

The versatile Gizmondo hand-held from Tiger is attempting the
difficult task of competing against Sony and Nintendo's marketing
muscle. Gizmondo's GPS abilities enable interesting location-based
games, but its roster of titles is weak.

Struggling gaming newcomer Nokia also put on a brave face with
N-Gage titles such as Civilization and Melbourne-made Payload.

But few publishers share Nokia's enthusiasm, focusing instead on
games for mobile phones.

Support for wireless devices is growing: 20 per cent of E3 games
were for mobile phones and personal organisers, including many
classics.

Console game sales are now worth five times more than PC titles
in Australia, but there are plenty of exciting computer games
ahead. E3's best was evolution simulator Spore from Will Wright,
the genius behind The Sims.

More than 1000 products made their debut at E3, but with rising
development costs, publishers are increasingly focused on quality
rather than quantity. The action-adventure genre remains the most
popular, making up 19 per cent of games on show. Other popular
categories included role playing, sports, driving and strategy.

Just the facts

The 11th annual Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) was held at
the Los Angeles Convention Centre and attracted more than 70,000
people. More than 400 exhibitors showed 5000 new products. www.e3insider.com

Game for anything

The games creating the biggest buzz at E3.

Nintendogs (Nintendo DS)

This adorable virtual pet simulator should prove irresistible to
the elusive female audience. Three different variants each offer
five different dog breeds. The puppy animation is life-like and
users can interact with pooches by touch or voice command.

Perfect Dark Zero (Xbox 360)

This shoot-'em up prequel lets an astonishing 64 players compete
in exciting online battles. The Xbox 360 digital camera can scan a
player's face to create a virtual likeness for use in the various
multi-player modes. Weapons include shotguns, sniper rifles and
grenade launchers.

Lara Croft Tomb Raider Legend (various)

Gaming's leading lady swings back into stardom. Returning to the
style of the original Tomb Raider after the disastrous Angel of
Darkness, Legend blends action with exploration.

The Godfather (various)

Players join the Corleone family and work their way up the ranks
using skilful diplomacy or brutal violence while trying to become
Don of their own Mafia family. Building respect and loyalty is
paramount.

Spore (PC)

Sims creator Will Wright's most ambitious project yet. This
sprawling evolution simulator zooms from amoeba level to universe.
Players begin by evolving a microbe in a petri dish and can
eventually guide a unique sentient race capable of travelling the
universe. Players can swap creatures, cities and even planets.

The Legend of Zelda (GameCube)

Starring an adult hero and realistic landscapes, this game is
thrilling. In the Twilight realm, Link transforms into a wolf,
complete with heightened senses and brute strength. Battling enemy
hordes from horseback is exhilarating.